King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand

The long-reigning monarch is remembered for his steadying hand

Bhumibol Adulyadej (Dec. 5, 1927–13 Oct. 13, 2016) was the king of Thailand for 70 years. He was given the title King Bhumibol the Great in 1987, and was the ninth monarch of the East Asian country; at the time of his death, Adulyadej was world's longest-serving head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history.

Early Life

Ironically, since he was the second son born to his parents, and since his birth took place outside of Thailand, Adulyadej was never expected to rule. His reign came about only after his older brother died. Nevertheless, during his long rule, Adulyadej was a calming presence at the center of Thailand's stormy political life.

Bhumibol whose full name means "strength of the land, incomparable power," was born in a Cambridge, Massachusetts, hospital. His family was in the United States because his father, Prince Mahidol Adulyadej, was studying for a public health certificate at Harvard University. His mother, Princess Srinagarindra (née Sangwan Talapat) was studying nursing at Simmons College in Boston.

When Bhumibol was a year old, his family returned to Thailand, where his father took up an internship in a hospital in Chiang Mai. Prince Mahidol was in poor health, though, and died of kidney and liver failure in September 1929.read more... (Thanks to www.thoughtco.com)